Lafourche Parish Council will not vote on bar hours

Published: Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 6:51 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 6:51 p.m.

The Lafourche Parish Council will not vote on a measure to allow bars to stay open until 3 a.m. on weekends.

The ordinance's author, Councilman John Arnold, said he is pulling the proposed change to “do more research.”

Arnold's proposal would have amended parish ordinance to allow bars to sell alcohol until 3 a.m. on weekend nights while they would still have to close at 2 a.m. the rest of the week.

“I want to do a little more research on how different parishes have adjusted to 3 a.m. sales,” Arnold said.

Arnold had been pushing the measure, claiming it would be an economic stimulus to bar owners in the area.

Meanwhile, Lafourche District Attorney Cam Morvant II released an opinion this week stating Arnold's involvement in the ordinance is an ethical breach.

Arnold owns Club Illusions on La. 1 near Lafourche Crossing. The club was formerly a strip club known as the G-Spot. Arnold said the club is closed and will reopen as a night club.

“The Louisiana Ethics Code prohibits any public servant from participating in a transaction in which he has a personal substantial economic interest of which he may be reasonably expected to know involving the governmental entity,” the opinion reads.

Morvant said economic interest is legally defined as 25 percent or more ownership.

The opinion noted councilmen typically abstain when parish business intersects their personal business.

Arnold said the opinion had no bearing on him withdrawing the proposed change. He could have asked someone else to sponsor the measure, he said.

“I think we will approach it again at a later time,” Arnold said. “A little more research needs to be done to check out other parishes and see if it has caused any safety issues,” Arnold said.

“The existing law has functioned well for the 30 or so years it has been in place,” Webre said. “To expand it further will create safety issues, particularly with impaired drivers and such.”

The ordinance would have extended hours only in areas outside incorporated Thibodaux and Golden Meadow.

“You would have another problem if the people in Golden Meadow and such leave (at 2 a.m.) and then drive somewhere in the parish for an extra hour of consumption before driving back to their home,” Webre said.

<p>The Lafourche Parish Council will not vote on a measure to allow bars to stay open until 3 a.m. on weekends.</p><p>The ordinance's author, Councilman John Arnold, said he is pulling the proposed change to “do more research.”</p><p>Arnold's proposal would have amended parish ordinance to allow bars to sell alcohol until 3 a.m. on weekend nights while they would still have to close at 2 a.m. the rest of the week.</p><p>“I want to do a little more research on how different parishes have adjusted to 3 a.m. sales,” Arnold said. </p><p>Arnold had been pushing the measure, claiming it would be an economic stimulus to bar owners in the area. </p><p>Meanwhile, Lafourche District Attorney Cam Morvant II released an opinion this week stating Arnold's involvement in the ordinance is an ethical breach.</p><p>Arnold owns Club Illusions on La. 1 near Lafourche Crossing. The club was formerly a strip club known as the G-Spot. Arnold said the club is closed and will reopen as a night club.</p><p>“The Louisiana Ethics Code prohibits any public servant from participating in a transaction in which he has a personal substantial economic interest of which he may be reasonably expected to know involving the governmental entity,” the opinion reads. </p><p>Morvant said economic interest is legally defined as 25 percent or more ownership.</p><p>The opinion noted councilmen typically abstain when parish business intersects their personal business. </p><p>Arnold said the opinion had no bearing on him withdrawing the proposed change. He could have asked someone else to sponsor the measure, he said.</p><p>“I think we will approach it again at a later time,” Arnold said. “A little more research needs to be done to check out other parishes and see if it has caused any safety issues,” Arnold said.</p><p>Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre previously spoke out against the proposed change. </p><p>“The existing law has functioned well for the 30 or so years it has been in place,” Webre said. “To expand it further will create safety issues, particularly with impaired drivers and such.”</p><p>The ordinance would have extended hours only in areas outside incorporated Thibodaux and Golden Meadow. </p><p>“You would have another problem if the people in Golden Meadow and such leave (at 2 a.m.) and then drive somewhere in the parish for an extra hour of consumption before driving back to their home,” Webre said.</p>